2017 Student Lifestyle Survey

By Simon Thompson

We are pleased to announce that our findings from the 2017 student lifestyle survey have now been released. Over 1000 students took part in the research, answering questions on student finance, term time employment, student social life and future housing aspirations alongside other topics.

This year we have also received feedback and opinions from students on current affairs. On a global level we have examined the anticipated impact of Brexit and Donald Trump, while closer to home we have analysed student feelings towards the expected further changes to UK tuition fees.

It appears that there has been an increase in the financial stress that university life can entail. The survey has indicated that students are now more reliant that ever on student loans, with 77% citing them as a major income source. Furthermore, there has also been a significant rise in the number of students working during either the term time or vacation periods. 69% of students are now employed in part time jobs, a 12% increase from just two years ago.

Desire to own a property has increased by 9% since our 2016 survey and now a record high of 86% of students want to own a property at some point in the future. However, this year students have also recorded the highest ever levels of doubt regarding being able to own a property. More students than ever before believe debt gained whilst at university and difficulties obtaining a graduate job will delay the purchase of their own home.

Following on from the government’s announcement for a national mandatory HMO licensing scheme, comes news of new minimum room size requirements for HMO rental properties.The government says this will help reduce the issues of over-crowding and also deal with po